The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) serves as a voice within government for the needs of crime victims in Washington State. Established in 1990, OCVA serves the state by:

• Advocating on behalf of victims obtaining needed services and resources;
• Administering grant funds for community programs working with crime victims;
• Assisting communities in planning and implementing services for crime victims; and
• Advising local and state government agencies of practices, policies, and priorities
  which impact crime victims.
  
  

  “It is the mission of the Office of Crime Victims advocacy to identify the opportunities and resources victims need in order to recover and to facilitate the availability of those resources and opportunities in communities statewide.”

                      

Summary

The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) provides advice to local and state governments on practices and policies that impact crime victims and provides funding, training, and consultation to help communities develop programs to serve crime victims. This activity also includes advocacy for victims who encounter difficulty accessing services or who believe their statutory or constitutional rights have been denied. Additional activities include notification and assistance to victims whose offender has the potential for parole under sentences prior to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.

Detail

OCVA was established in 1990 in response to public input and recommendations from a Governor- appointed task force examining community protection from sex offenders. Crime victims and advocates spoke to the need for coordinated, state level representation and funding for sexual assault victims in particular, as well as crime victims in general.

OCVA staff provide individual and system advocacy for crime victims. Individual victims may receive information, referral, assistance in accessing benefits or services for crime victims, and advocacy to support their constitutional rights. Systems serving crime victims benefit from OCVA's  representation of their interests at the state level. Those interests include laws, policies, and funding that impact the development or enhancement of victim services at the community level.

OCVA has a leadership role in facilitating training and service delivery information that assures communities are providing the best possible service. These efforts are implemented through the establishment and maintenance of a resource database, a library of resource materials, annual conferences and training, a quarterly newsletter, and a statewide guide to crime victim services, by county.

OCVA's philosophy is that it is in the best interest of all citizens of Washington State that victims of crime are provided the opportunities and resources necessary to recover and return to being productive, contributing members of the community. It is essential that state government support the development and availability of needed resources and opportunities for crime victims.

For More Information, contact:

Office of Crime victims advocacy 906 Columbia St. SW  P.O. Box 48304 Olympia, WA 98504-8304 (800) 822-1067  Direct Line (866) 857-9889 Contractor Line Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7a.m. to 6p.m. We will be closed for business Friday through Sunday.